We’ve got some interesting information coming to us from 1C Game Studios via their latest developer blog. Blog number 85 is focused on the post-release life for Korea IL-2 Series and it lays out some broad efforts that the team are focused on for the future. This is a foundational approach so we’re not learning specifics of the planned DLC yet (we know its Korean War carrier ops… its just the details that we’re looking for) but it does reveal some interesting bits.

Pilot AI and radio improvements

Going by the reactions to my Korea IL-2 Series review, the biggest issues that people are worried about are VR performance and pilot AI. Those are the top items on the list here and we start with information revealed on the pilot AI.

1CGS reports that they have an iterative approach to pilot AI development planned out. They’ve already achieved a basic level of operations including for the ability for the AI to taxi at the start of a mission (not something they could do previously). Polishing their interactions is the next step.

AI development does not end with release. We continue to evaluate its behavior across different aircraft, mission types, terrain, and combat situations. The broader range of gameplay data now available allows us to identify recurring issues more precisely, reproduce them reliably, and assess the effectiveness of each change.

The team are looking to gather reports of the AI not doing what they are supposed to be doing with the goal of reproducing, fixing and fine tuning. They also intend to expand functionality refining the player-commander’s target designation and look direction commands.

They are also working on the radio communication system with an increase in radio phase variations, more informative radio comms, add voice lines for wingmen, and create a system for mission and campaign creators to add their own lines for any aircraft in the mission.

They also want to improve the quality of the English voice overs and have put out a call for help:

We will also need the community’s help here. We are looking for native English speakers willing to lend their voices to the in-game radio communication system. If you are ready to help and quite literally immortalize your voice in the game — contact us at pr@1cgs.net with a title ‘In-game radio’.

Hopefully this ongoing approach nets some significant results. It is what I had hoped to see so I’m looking forward to seeing the efforts pay off.

VR performance, multiplayer and dynamic campaign

Other priority items for the team are centered around VR and multiplayer. VR performance has been an issue for many. They say that they have ideas for further improving the situation and plan to implement some optimization options and then implement them into the game.

Multiplayer is getting some new features too. A built-in leaderboard displaying player rankings is one new feature. The ability to use the airfield taxiing system is another with mission creators able to place aircraft spawn locations at parking stands and in revetments is another. They also plan to add versions of AI fighters and attack aircraft with simplified physics (similar to the B-29 and Tu-2S AI bombers) allowing for larger AI flights to fill in on the server. Other improvements and performance tweaks are being worked on too.

Finally, the big news is that 1CGS are actively pursuing a dynamic campaign for IL-2 Series. Yeah! They say that they are plotting to gradually design a new game mode (so it will be separate from Career) where the results of operations will affect the resources of both sides, affect troop movement and position, and ultimately control over territory.

This mode will no longer be solely about air units. It will be about the war as a whole—and how the player’s actions can change its course. Dynamic Campaign is currently at an early design stage, so a tremendous amount of work still lies ahead. We will explain its structure and mechanics in greater detail when we are ready to share specific solutions.

With Career mode already picking up damage persistence across the map, I had wondered if 1CGS were slowly working towards their own take on dynamic campaigns and now its a confirmed project. I wouldn’t expect it to arrive soon though there could be a bit of a race on to see if DCS or IL-2 Series picks up a dynamic campaign first.

Read the full diary here!